Back on home turf for badminton tests

ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times

STEPPING UP: James Eunson and Anna Rankin are ready to represent the New Zealand badminton team at the Whyte Trophy

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James Eunson and Anna Rankin yesterday arrived back to where it all began.

The two former James Hargest College pupils drove into the Stadium Southland car park like they've done many times in the past.

But this time when they arrived at Stadium Southland the two badminton talents were wearing the silver fern of New Zealand.

They arrived with the New Zealand badminton team, which is preparing for the three-test Whyte Trophy series against Australia tomorrow night.

For the two Southlanders, who are now living and studying in Auckland, the chance to pull on the back shirt for the first time in a Whyte Trophy event is special.

However, to do it in Invercargill, where they both took their badminton baby steps, makes this series even more memorable for the two southerners.

"It's nice to get a free trip back home," Eunson joked yesterday when quizzed about the opportunity to play in Invercargill.

Eunson and Rankin are part of the 10-strong New Zealand team that will be called on during the three tests. Both are likely to be used as singles options throughout the matchups with Australia.

Only a matter of a fortnight ago Eunson and Rankin pulled on the maroon colours to help Southland to a victory at the Slazenger Cup event in Auckland.

The New Zealand team arrived in Queenstown from Auckland yesterday and drove to Invercargill, where they got straight into training at 5pm at Stadium Southland.

The New Zealanders will train twice again today, broken up with a mayoral reception in the afternoon.

The Australian team is scheduled to arrive in Invercargill late today, with the first test set to start at 7pm tomorrow.

The second will be held on Monday at 6pm with the final test on Wednesday.

NEW ZEALAND Rachel Hindley, Stephanie Cheng, Donna Haliday, Anna Rankin, Danielle Barry, Joe Wu, Oliver Leydon-Davis, James Eunson, Henry Tam, Daniel Shirley.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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